Harshit Rana has finally opened up about what really happened during that heated exchange with Mitchell Starc in Perth and how Virat Kohli and KL Rahul didn’t just watch the drama unfold from the slips, but they actually made things even more intense by adding fuel to the flames.
It all happened during Harshit Rana’s debut Test, which was the first match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth.
Rana bowled a fiery spell full of bouncers to former KKR teammate Mitchell Starc. The Australian speedster, clearly rattled, gave a cheeky grin and threw a warning at him: “Harshit, I bowl faster than you. I’ve got a long memory.”
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Harshit Rana recalls fiery duel with Mitchell Starc in Perth Test
For two straight overs, the Australian speedster kept reminding Rana of his pace, but Rana did reply with just a smile. The young Indian pacer stayed focused, and soon, he had his big moment. Rana dismissed Starc for 26, giving India’s bowling attack a big boost and easing the pressure.
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But what made the whole scene more memorable was the presence of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Standing at the slip, both senior players were encouraging Rana, hyping him up, and even teasing Starc a bit to add more fire to the already fiery exchange in the first Test at Perth.
When Mitchell Starc hits back at Harshit Rana after Virat Kohli-KL Rahul add fuel to the fire
Harshit Rana recalled on the BeerBiceps podcast: “I bowled a bouncer at him after a long time. One of them hit his helmet. When he sledged, I just laughed it off. But while I was walking back for my run-up, I was like, ‘mar gaya. Ab ye maarega mujhe bouncer’ (I’m dead; now he will bowl bouncers at me).
And then, from behind, Virat bhai and KL bhai kept shouting, ‘Maarta reh, maarta reh, idhar hi maar isko’ (Keep hitting him at the same spot!). I was like, ‘Bhaiya, aap toh khel loge, mere lagegi sar pe!’ (You both will play him easily; I’ll get hit on the helmet!).”
Starc took his revenge in the second Test, sending down a sharp bouncer that crashed right into Harshit Rana’s helmet. Rana signed off by saying, “He actually hit me on the helmet in the second test.”
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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Tests after the Australia series loss
Notably, India started the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy strong with a big win in the first Test by 295 runs. But after that, they couldn’t keep up the momentum and lost three of the next four matches, and ended up losing the Test series. This test series turned out to be the last one for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who called time on their Test careers before the England tour.
Later, Shubman Gill was named as the new Test captain. Rana was called up as backup for the first Test but was released from the squad soon after. India kicked off the new ‘Gill era’ with a tough 2-2 Test series draw in England. However, he is likely to be picked for the Asia Cup 2025.
